Sunday, June 9, 1991
American Church - Sunday, June 9, 1991
Walked to the Metro (subway) across the Seine River and made our way to the American Church in downtown Paris. Really like the church. In the afternoon we checked out more thoroughly the town of St. Germain En Laye.
Back to La Defense to a fast food place. Ordered a slice of pizza “to go” and didn’t even think of sitting in their chairs. We now know it is a less expensive price for food “to go” and you don’t sit in their chairs.
Editor’s Note
This is the start of week two in the France journal. Georgia starting writing in Sunday, June 2, 1991. If you are new to this blog or these journal entries, start with the category, My Life in France, and go to the bottom of the posts and read up. When you get to this post you are all caught up.
Photo above was taken by Georgia Christal on July 14, 1991. Caption on the back of the photo reads:
23. The American Church, Paris, France, 7/14/91
Saturday, June 8, 1991
La Havre - Saturday, June 8, 1991
Our first drive out of Paris to La Havre (the coast). Many tollways, nice rest areas. Even if you’re driving the speed limit you don’t remain in the left lane - other tend to run over you.
Nice camground in La Havre at the edge of a forest. Beautiful drive all the way. Strolled thru the city and decided to eat. But it’s after 2pm and before 7pm. The restaurant we want to eat at is closed until 7pm. (very common practice in France).
We find a deli and settle for a good ham and cheese sandwich on a croissant.
Friday, June 7th, 1991
Club Affairs - Friday, June 7th, 1991
Tonight we met the bartender “Eve” in the bar at Club Affairs. He gave us ideas on one day trips from the city.
Thursday, June 6, 1991
McDonald’s - Thursday, June 6, 1991
Back to the grocery store for a few more items. I first stopped at McDonald’s for fries and a coke. I order it “to go” so I can sit outside and also because the fries come in a sack and will stay warmer.
As I’m sitting at the McDonald’s table outside, a young man (employee) approaches and tells me something in French. I tell him in French that I don’t understand French. So, he tells me in English that I ordered my food “to go far away” and I can’t sit here.
O.K., I moved my body to some steps about 10 feet away and finished my snack. On to the grocery store. I don’t pay for a cart anymore. I buy a little at a time and use a hand basket. Also remember, you’re walking and you have to carry it home.
Editor’s Notes
We went to the McDonald’s over there, you also have to pay for ketchup packets too!
Wednesday, June 5, 1991
The Grocery and Apartment - Wednesday, June 5, 1991
David takes the high speed train to Leon, France, for the day. We decided to move out of the expensive hotel and into a temporary apartment in La Defense called Club Affairs. With David gone, I check out the hotel taking 2 pieces of luggage with me on the cart and off I go to the apartment.
The only problem is, as I exit the building, I know the general direction to go in but am not really sure, plus there are steps and people everywhere, so I head for David’s office. Yes, it’s the long way but I’m sure I can find it that way and hopefully find the ramps for my cart.
No such luck. After climbing 2 large stairways I arrive at Club Affairs. Nice people here. Back to the Sofitel for the last piece of luggage. This time I remember the straight way -toward the Grand Arch and back toward the arch de Triomphe and it proves easier.
Well, it’s grocery buying time. We now have a kitchen and utensils. David arrives home and off we go (walking, of course) to Auchan Hypermarche - a huge grocery, etc., store. Tons of people there. We see people with grocery carts and realize they are coming from a back room. David goes to get one and has to pay to use it.
Then there is the grocery line. You bag your groceries -quickly, while trying to watch that they charge you the right prices. You have to be fasts because the minute you pay, they are checking the next guy and you need to be gone!
Editor’s Notes
Image below is La Defense - Temporary Living in June 1991. Caption on the image reads: View from our temporary apartment
It looks like it was raining, of course.
Tuesday, June 4, 1991
Finding an Apartment - Tuesday, June 4, 1991
I’m exhausted. David walks to work. In the afternoon, back on the RER to St. Germain (1) to look at the apartment. The Gardien of the apartment speaks absolutely no English. We realize the apartment will not be ready until July 1. Very nice place.
Back to the office we go. Louis arranged for us to meet a realtor [sic] in the town of La Vesinet in the afternoon to look at apartments in Las Vesinet / La Pecq that would be available sooner. We’re a little early so we drive to La Pecq.
Realizing we need to be going in a different direction, we follow a lady who turns left and so do we. A policeman whistles at us both and we pull over. The lady argues with him (in French) and then he comes our way. It was early afternoon and as he began to speak, his breath told us he had just finished a nice lunch with lots of wine.
David told him in French that he doesn’t understand French and he says “American?” and waves us on. We did learn that you are not to cross a solid line at any time on the road. The lady’s argument was that the line was worn away and she was right.
We arrive at the Realtors at 2:30pm for our appointment and no one in the office knows anything about an appointment for us. We have the notes on which apartments we are to look at and the name of the person to see, so somebody had to have talked to somebody.
A person would be available to take us around but we had to come back in about 45 minutes. So we investigated the town and small shops and discovered a pastry shop with the best “Palmiers” around. The apartments were not at all to our liking so we decided to wait until July 1 for the one in St. Germain.
Editor’s Notes
Since this journal was written far before the creation of a blog I will from time to time add a few links in this section [editor’s notes] or other pertinent information.
(1) Saint-Germain-en-Laye is a small town in the western suburbs of Paris, France.
Monday, June 3, 1991
Arrival in France - Monday, June 3rd, 1991
We arrived 2 hours late to Orly Airport to find the weather unexpectedly cool. We lucked out to get a station wagon taxi for our tons of luggage and headed for the office. (It’s Monday afternoon now).
We were greeted by Isabel (David’s secretary) and Louis (David’s boss). Our large luggage we left at the office but we dashed off with our hand carries to the Sofitel Hotel at CNIT (Infomart, Paris).
Then we took the RER (train) to the town of St. Germain En Laye to get our car. The car was not at the place David bought it, so, it was a nice day, and we began to walk to where we were to pick it up. David was carrying 2 important papers in his hand but upon arrival where our car was, he only had one.
Finally - a grey Peugot 309SRD with a sun roof. Nice! They filled it with diesel and off we went. David’s first test at driving. Back we go the way we had walked to find the lost piece of paper. After numerous stops and dashing across the street to check out pieces of paper on the ground, we finally found it (close to the first dealer we originally went to).
We drove back to La Defense to park the car in the office garage; David took a deep breath; and we walked to the hotel.